Here is a copy of the column by Georgia Democratic Chair Mike Berlon in the April 22, 2012 Statesboro Herald:

A letter printed in Sunday’s Statesboro Herald (“My thumbnail history of the American left from 1919-2012”) stated a number of inaccuracies about the Democratic Party- a party that I have been elected to represent as Chairman in the great state of Georgia.

I would like to give another viewpoint of the “History of the American left”, one that is grounded in reality and based in fact and logic, not wild exaggerations or unnecessary hyperbole. Our accomplishments do not need embellishment, as they stand tall on their own.

The Democratic Party is one of the oldest political parties in the world. We stand for the values of justice, fairness and equality. We are for honest leadership and open government.

We believe that innovative leadership creates jobs and that investments in education pay off. We believe in an economy that works for everyone.

We value responsibility and smart, practical policies that benefit all–not just the most fortunate folks. We know that when we promote opportunities for all people, it lifts everyone to the top.

The “History of the American left” is incomplete unless it mentions our biggest accomplishments- Social Security and Medicare for our elderly and infirm, an end to child labor that was persistent in the early 1900’s, and winning the fight so that women and minorities can cast their vote as easily as men do.

When African-Americans were prevented from voting, a Democratic President signed the Civil Rights Act.

When a crazed dictator took over Europe, a Democratic President stopped him. When a crazed terrorist brought down the Twin Towers, a Democratic President brought him to justice.

Even now, we are the foot soldiers defending against the GOP war on women.

We created the 40-hour workweek so that parents could spend time with their kids, a mandatory minimum wage so that workers could be paid a fair wage for a decent day’s work, and a guaranteed student loan program so that students could go to college.

The GI Bill? We did that. First man on the moon? We did that too. The HOPE scholarship? That’s us.

In just the past four years, we’ve prevented insurance companies from denying your claim due to a pre-existing condition. We have placed two female justices on the Supreme Court, eliminated “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” in the military, and withdrawn over 100,000 troops from Iraq.

The author’s history lesson in Sunday’s Statesboro Herald was a work of fiction, crafted by fear and woefully distant from the facts.

Any true history of the Democratic Party must include the valiant fight for justice and equality that we have worked so hard towards- and still strive for- every single day.

That is a very broad stroke you are painting sir. I am not a Democrat by any means but such a sweeping condemnation seems rather judgemental & hastily said. This is the sort of pronouncement that pushes people away.

Democrats, I can see how you could have been persuaded last time, but now it's obviously a bad decision to vote for Obama. Study your last four years carefully and make an educated decision for our country's sake.

Hmmmm? I think Zell Miller said it best when he stated that he had not deserted the democrat party, but that it had deserted him.

Perhaps its because they are continually "...evolving..." (compromising principles?) that people are wondering where they'll finally wind up.

It always interests me how people conflate political science and public policy with history. While a study of history is always worthwhile, it is in the here and now, the ongoing public policies and direction of government that people find worthwhile reasons to be concerned. If one studies history then it becomes more and more apparent that the Commanding Heights mentality, government directed economies, never have or ever will work to benefit its people in a long-term stable manner. The Austrian school, with its emphasis on entrepreneurial free market principles is the only proven solution.

This letter merely self-justifies the present course of government by hijacking successes of the past instead of outlining a course of action that addresses the present and long term needs of the nation.

When government intrudes into every facet of living, attempts to regulate behavior and decisions that are the responsibility of mature citizens, then that government has become too onerous and its people too indifferent to what they have surrendered. Sit on your front porch and give thought to the many ways that government presently impacts your lives, intrudes into your world, and ask what really limits government today? Only then will you realize that your homes are no longer your castles, your lives are no longer your own or self-directed or your responsibility, and that the continuing positive legacies of the past are prone to be altered, morphed, belittled, and spat on by the sanctimonious, the ones who know better than you do, and those who govern based upon their present state of emotions. Only the criminally insane could consider TRILLIONS in debt as a beneficial position to be in, no matter the emotional gratification they derive from it.

Well spoken, Mr. Berlon! My daddy is a retired welder and farmer. My grandfather was a farmer. I was taught to work for what you need and want.

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